In an effort to improve interagency communication, several public safety organizations are teaming up to promote best practices that could save lives.

Public safety agencies announced Aug. 5 a collaborative effort to improve interagency communication when handling cases of missing and abducted children. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) teamed with Amber Alert and the FBI to develop a guide for establishing best practices when reporting cases using the National Crime Information Computer system.

“APCO is working closely with NCMEC to promote the alert system and increase the utilization of the guide through training and certification programs,” said APCO President Terry Hall.

The purpose of the guide is to increase consistency of reported information in missing children cases and ensure that critical information is not omitted that could help emergency officials. The guide also includes requirements for a 911 call center that wishes to be recognized as a NCMEC 9-1-1 Call Center Partner.

More details about the program can be found online at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.